FALLBROOK, Calif.—A 76-year-old man suspected of fatally shooting a man and wounding another man and a woman authorities believe is his daughter at a plant nursery near Live Oak County Park was in custody Saturday.
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded just before 3 p.m. Friday to a call of a shooting at Atkins Nursery in the 3100 block of Reche Road in Fallbrook, according to Lt. Chris Steffen.
The arriving deputies located two victims just outside of a barn on the property with apparent gunshot wounds to their upper torsos, Steffen said. One victim was a 35-40-year-old woman, who authorities said they believe is the daughter of the suspect. The other victim was a 65-70-year-old man, Steffen said.
As deputies continued their search for a suspect inside the barn, they located a third victim who was dead, a 55-60-year-old man, Steffen said. The deputies contacted a subject inside the barn who was later identified as the suspect. Enrique Barajas Gutierrez was arrested and taken to the Fallbrook Sheriff’s Station without incident, Steffen said.
The wounded victims underwent surgery and are expected to survive, Steffen said.
Detectives are still attempting to determine the relationship between Gutierrez and the other victims, Steffen said.
The name of the deceased victim will not be released until his family has been notified, Steffen said.
The firearm used is believed to be a rifle, but the type and caliber are unknown, Steffen said.
Gutierrez will be booked into the Vista Detention Facility on suspicion of murder, Steffen said.
The motive for the shooting and the circumstances leading up to it remain under investigation.
